Patrick Elasik

"ULTIMATELY WHAT REALLY MATTERS IS A COURAGEOUS SPIRIT AND A GENEROUS HEART."-Margaret Cessna

Patrick Elasik was born to parents Colleen and Ron on May 7, 1978 in Washington, D.C. Seven and a half years older than his sister, Lauren, he was a proud and protective big brother. Growing up in the suburbs of Washington, Patrick didn’t fit the mold of a typical suburban kid. Structured school, sports, and camp were too confining for his energetic and individualistic spirit. Adrenalin was his trademark and he was always ahead of the curve on all things cool. He was skateboarding, painting graffiti, boogie boarding, snowboarding and listening to hip hop long before they were popular in the mainstream media. He had an incredible amount of energy, pushing limits to the edge of what many would consider comfortable, reasonable or safe. That’s what made Patrick so unique. He pioneered the life he wanted for himself. He didn’t let others definitions of success in school or sports stand in his way. From a very young age Patrick was known for living life at full throttle. He didn’t take time for granted. His passions and his vision helped him build many life achievements in business, world travel, surfing, and in his personal relationships.

In 1996 when Patrick was 18 he and his friends couldn’t find a quality graffiti and urban lifestyle magazine that they wanted to read. Patrick and his best friend, Adrian Moeller, decided they would create their own magazine. After starting the business in Patrick’s basement, Mass Appeal was born. While the magazine was growing, Patrick moved to Portland, Oregon to experience West Coast life and snowboarding on Mount Hood. He then spent time in San Francisco where he became a bike messenger riding a brakeless track bike on San Francisco’s notoriously steep streets. Meanwhile, Mass Appeal’s business started to expand necessitating his move to New York City in 1998. Patrick served as Mass Appeal Magazine’s co-founder and publisher and the magazine gained a loyal following. The magazine was published internationally with a subscription base of over 150,000. According to Matt P. “Pat and Adrian were the visionaries that really changed the face of independent publishing.” Designer Jauretsi says, “ Pat’s vision and legacy, Mass Appeal, introduced, documented, and supported many artists throughout the years, becoming a veritable time capsule of NYC's contemporary street art movement. Mass Appeal helped encapsulate an era. Art is never appreciated by the masses until its aged, withstood the test of time, and in some cases, in posthumous scenarios. Somewhere in the pages of Mass Appeal, lies the next Basquait, Haring, or Warhol. Pat created the petri dish for that environment.”

Patrick’s unique energy was evident to all who worked with him. He was well known for his one a kind laugh and his funny and inspiring coined phrases such as “sooner or later you gotta make your move” or playing it like a game”. Publisher Ken Squire said “these phrases were all inspiring, not only was it the words - it was in Patrick’s hilarious entrepreneurial roar-like delivery. It worked on many levels, and provided encouragement when we encountered fear or doubt, and quite simply was a reflection of Mass Appeal’s milestones over the years moving from a tiny office in Red Hook, to Brooklyn, to creating Colossal Media. He showed us that we needed the energy to make things happen. Patrick’s anecdotes had flair where victory was celebrated, and losses were learning opportunities and even laughed at. His spirit of taking on challenges was second to none.”

AN INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF ENERGY, PUSHING LIMITS TO THE EDGE OF WHAT MANY WOULD CONSIDER COMFORTABLE, REASONABLE OR SAFE.

Patrick’s vision helped kickstart the careers of many successful writers and editors in the New York City publishing business. Mary Choi, former Mass Appeal Editor said of Patrick, “I'm indebted to him. The company he and Adrian started changed the course of my life and I'm sincerely grateful to have known him.” Editor Noah Callahan Beaver added, “Patrick and Adrian gave me the life-altering opportunity to captain the editorial department of their beautiful book. They launched more careers than I can count on my fingers and toes. Just ask the human resources department at VIBE or Harris Publications--or any photo editor. Many people in the industry are eternally indebted to Patrick and Adrian for their support, patience, and most of all their belief in us.” Writer Justin Monroe said, “Looking back on the opportunities I was given at Mass Appeal, I realize that without Pat and Adrian's creation--without Mass Appeal--I wouldn't be where I am today. Mass Appeal offered me an opportunity to see my writing published and to feel proud of my accomplishments in all aspects of magazine publishing. I am thankful to Pat for his vision, and even more so, I am eternally grateful to Pat for giving me a chance to learn”. Producer Boudicon added” Pat gave me my first real magazine job as an editor and I'll never forget that. In fact, they've helped a lot of people pay their rent on time. I will always remember Pat as the guy who gave me something to love, who gave a lot of people something to love, Mass Appeal.”

Patrick thrived at Mass Appeal Magazine and he went on to be recognized by the publication Advertising Age as one of its "Top 30 Under 30" entrepreneurs for his success in the fields of media and advertising. However, with the internet boom and the shift to online publication, Patrick began to see that the market was shifting away from print media. Instead, he focused on bringing the hand painted advertising he first saw in Portland, Oregon to New York City.

In 2004 Patrick co-founded Colossal Media and Sky High Murals. Colossal Media and Sky High Murals is now the largest hand paint mural and outdoor advertising company in the world. They paint large-scale photorealistic murals, art projects, advertising campaigns and more in New York City and nationwide with a level of efficiency and precision that is unmatched. It was Patrick’s vision to turn giant empty brick walls into beautiful art using established Mass Appeal advertisers as early clients.

Patrick may have been very successful professionally but personally he remained humble and down to earth. He was a fun loving and sometimes quiet guy who was very curious and excited about living life to the fullest. Patrick was sensitive, open, and funny with a very soft side to him that showed his love for others. Many described Patrick as having a special presence that was perpetually relaxed. He was known to greet others with a genuine smile, a friendly pound, and to always treat others with utmost respect. As a boss, one employee said “Patrick was always open to new ideas and suggestions. He came through for you always and kept his word. He was always positive and supportive. He was smart, real, and rare.”

NEVER, EVER LOOK BEHIND AND REGRET IT

Patrick was a good soul with a huge heart. He had an understanding and care for others that kept him strongly connected with many of his friends over the years. He was able to connect with everyone he met whether it meant hanging out with a girlfriend’s mom cooking pumpkin pie while wearing a pastel apron or offering to teach a new friend how to surf in Rockaway Beach.

Patrick also had a free and fearless spirit with an electric personality. Close friend, Grace Sea said, “Patrick WAS SO MUCH FUN! It seemed like we were always chasing sunsets. Many of my first adventurous experiences were a result of spending time with him.” He fully embraced life. A friend said, “I’ll never forget Patrick’s wavy brown curls and undying spirit. He taught me the most important lesson in the world - never, ever look behind and regret it.” One of the things that people remember most about Patrick was his contagious laugh and how it made everyone around him laugh just as hard. When he was laughing and you showed up to a party, you could hear him from across the party. Childhood pal Matt Miller said, “Pat was one of the most genuine people I’ve ever met, I was proud to call him my friend.”